Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is poised to bestow upon his avid fans not one, but two cinematic ventures as he revs up his production machinery this forthcoming February. As someone who has redefined cinematic excellence over the years, Khan is all set to grace the silver screen after a sabbatical of one and a half years with the first of his two projects, “Sitare Zameen Par.” This film marks a return to his dual role as both actor and producer, opting to spearhead Prasanna’s upcoming directorial, which is an adaptation of the 2018 critically acclaimed Spanish feature “Campeones.”
The buzz around town is that Aamir Khan has immersed himself in several reading sessions alongside his co-stars, meticulously coming to a decision regarding his character’s aesthetic in the social dramedy. Reports indicate that he has carved out approximately seventy-five days of his schedule for the production, which is anticipated to begin its filming journey early next month.
Hot on the heels of this eagerly awaited endeavor is “Lahore: 1947,” a project that sees Khan in collaboration with his directorial ally, the distinguished Rajkumar Santoshi, with industry stalwart Sunny Deol also onboard. The film, which is a historical drama set against the poignant backdrop of the Partition, is already in the preparatory stage, with set construction underway at a Mumbai studio. The team is working diligently, creating an authentic mise-en-scène that depicts one of the most tumultuous periods in the annals of South Asian history.
While “Sitare Zameen Par” is en route to brighten the Christmas of 2024 with its release, the debut of “Lahore: 1947” onto the cinematic panorama will be announced post the completion of a significant part of the filming.
In other Bollywood big-screen news, this April’s Eid weekend box-office clash will feature a face-off unlike any before. The highly anticipated “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” starring the dynamic duo of Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff and boasting the formidable presence of Prithviraj Sukumaran playing the antagonist, will now share the auspicious date with Ajay Devgn’s “Maidaan.” This sports drama directed by Amit R Sharma recounts the golden era of Indian football, with Devgn portraying the legendary coach Abdul Syed Rahim.
Despite having their release dates strategically blocked, the inevitability of box-office tussles is not new for these stars, with past Diwali face-offs in their filmography; however, this constitutes their inaugural competition during the Eid festivities. As a side note, both Ajay and Tiger’s 2022 Eid releases did not quite hit the mark they were expected to.
The boundaries of cinematic liberty are being evaluated by the Censor Board in their review of Siddarth Anand’s “Fighter.” Touted to be a patriotic film, it has undergone sanitization to secure a U/A rating, with mandates to amend certain dialogues and visuals deemed inappropriate for the intended audience. The action-packed air thriller, with a notable cast featuring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, and others, is confirmed to have a two-hour and forty-six-minute runtime.
In an offshoot from the realm of film, actor Abhimanyu Dassani has taken a dive into the world of dance, extending his passion across the globe with a specialized dance workshop he conducted for enthusiastic young dancers in New York City. The workshop was an amalgamation of Indian and Western dance styles, creating an unforgettable experience, not only for the children who partook but also for Dassani, who found the endeavor illuminating in more ways than one.
Further stirring the whirlpool of anticipation is the announcement of Vijay Deverakonda’s next project post “Family Star,” tentatively titled “VD12.” Triptii Dimri, coming off the success of “Animal,” is being hotly tipped to add romantic intrigue as the film’s leading lady, while Rukmini Vasanth is potentially eyeing a significant role. With film director Gowtam Tinnanuri keen to set cameras rolling this coming March, rumors swirl around the cast reshuffle as Sree Leela steps away due to prior commitments.
Lastly, the discourse surrounding Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Animal” continues to simmer, with Taapsee Pannu voicing concerns over the impact such narratives have on societal perceptions. While weaving comparisons with Hollywood, Pannu points out the profundity of Bollywood’s influence on the youth of India, essentially highlighting the responsibility filmmakers bear when depicting content that could be culturally and socially sensitive.
In conclusion, Bollywood’s star-studded firmament is set to unleash a flurry of cinematic jewels that promise to enthrall, inspire and foster discourse amongst audiences far and wide.
